Incident Over Songkhran> What Wouldyou Do?

[taxexile]

Last weekend, Sunday night, a Thai man I know, and have known for nearly thirty years, he is 90 now, was attacked and injured by drunken Thai revellers outside a bar on Sukhumvit 22.

I am wondering what would be the best course of action for him to take in order to obtain compensation, justice and perhaps some glorious retribution.

Here is the story.

I have known this man for a long time, he lives in a small shophouse down a small subsoi off Soi 22. He is 90, he is sharp and active but of late a little frail. He is out and about every day, off down to Chinatown after lunch to natter with his old geezer mates in a teashop there. He walks to the underground at Asoke, takes the train and then walks to Chinatown. He exercises every morning, usually in the park by the Emporium. His eyesight is terrible though wears Mr. Magoo glasses and is just about blind without them.

Last Sunday night, about 7.30pm, dressed in long trousers and a white shirt, (respectable old man clothes), he was walking home from Asoke station and as he passed the open bar next to the 7/11 on Sukhumvit at the top of Soi 22, (its called Ottos Bar and Bistro, done out with bamboo panelling, there are two bars under the same name, one seems to be on Soi 22, the adjacent one is next to the 7/11 on Sukhumvit.) he was drenched by a full power hose pipe pointed in his face, his glasses were knocked off and he was blinded. He shouted for them to stop, he held his hands in front of himself as unsighted people do, and in doing so he made contact with the face of the woman who had turned the hose on him. Then all of a sudden he was set upon by some of the bar girls and a katoey who works there.

He was pushed to the ground, kicked many times and punched. This is a 90 year old man remember.

Eventually some customers in the bar, falangs he thinks but he couldnt be sure, pulled the attackers away, but not before he had the contents of his pockets emptied. About 1000b in cash, the glasses were never found, gold rimmed with expensive lenses due to his eyesight, (tunnel vision, cataracts and macular degeneration)

Eventually, as he is a known locally, he was recognised and his son was called to help him. The police arrived, they all went to the police station, where the bar owner, a loud mouthed harridan, married to "Otto" I presume, because there was a falang present at the police station too, accused the old man of starting it all, accused him of lying, and was generally loud and aggressive throughout.

I wont repeat his sons and daughters comments about the ignorant falang, his bargirl wife, and the katoey other than they were all very abusive and drunk, accusing him of starting the whole thing and taking no responsibility for their actions, although eventually the katoey admitted kicking him whilst he was on the ground, his excuse being that he was drunk.

After filing a police report, he was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with cuts to his arms, extensive bruising to his thorax and abdomen and one broken rib.
He spent one night in hospital, and was sent home the next day. the doctors said the rib will take about 6 to 8 weeks to mend, and he will be in a lot of discomfort. he is to attend hospital every week for a check on the healing progress.

I have seen him a couple of times this last week, he is not his normal chatty self, he is quiet, subdued, hardly eats. I think he is in shock. His family are rightly furious about this.

The police now have the hospital report, and will decide how to proceed with the matter on Tuesday. They were very sympathetic, finding it quite unbelievable that a 90 year old man was set upon in this manner, and have promised to see justice is done.

If this happened to a defenceless person you respected and knew, what would you want in the way of justice, compensation and/or retribution.

Would you leave it to the police, or would you call on any contacts to help "sort things out"

Knowing this man and his life story and knowing him to be a man of honour, hearing of this incident has made me angry, and I hope that the filthy scum that set on him are punished fully for their despicable behaviour.

[Rural Surin]

Alternative justice and retribution can be purchased privately.

Take advantage.

[Bettyboo]

I suggest you do nothing. The Thais will sort it out in their own way, and the people who attacked him will get theirs...

[FailSafe]

If the cops are still on it, give them a chance- they will take their cut of any compensation, of course, but they'll still extract it if possible- if he's from the neighborhood, they might even smack the guilty parties around a bit.

I wouldn't resort to any outside assistance until the cops are out of it (and only if you're not satisfied with their result)

[Rural Surin]

I suggest you do nothing. The Thais will sort it out in their own way, and the people who attacked him will get theirs...

Yep....
Sometimes familiar actions will do.

[astasinim]

Knowing this man and his life story and knowing him to be a man of honour, hearing of this incident has made me angry, and I hope that the filthy scum that set on him are punished fully for their despicable behaviour.

I would be more than angry. I don`t know the poor fella and it made angry reading it. There quite simply is no excuse for this kind of behavior. I think I`d be seeking retribution from some hired hands if it was my father.

[Pragmatic]

I am wondering what would be the best course of action for him to take in order to obtain compensation

The police now have the hospital report, and will decide how to proceed with the matter on Tuesday.

They will decide on how much compensation is to be paid on Tuesday.

[jamescollister]

Pay the cops to act faster, normal practice. If you feel bad enough, do the farang yourself. Jim

[misskit]

Pay the cops extra to smack the culprits around a bit.

[taxexile]

i know there are a few members who live in that area.

anybody see the incident? know the bar?

Alternative justice and retribution can be purchased privately.

Take advantage.

the family can easily arrange this, they do know people, but they dont want to.

[Mid]

give the cops a chance ,

revenge is a dish best served cold .

[jamescollister]

i know there are a few members who live in that area.

anybody see the incident? know the bar?

Alternative justice and retribution can be purchased privately.

Take advantage.

the family can easily arrange this, they do know people, but they dont want to.

Family don't have pull, or things would have been taken care of.
Thailand, everyone knows someone, but if you [family] have status, you don't pay, favors are given and patronage is re-payed.

[nidhogg]

I suggest you do nothing. The Thais will sort it out in their own way, and the people who attacked him will get theirs...

Bettyboo nailed it.

[taxexile]

Family don't have pull, or things would have been taken care of.

they do apparently, but he declined the offer. he doesnt want to go that route, although some close to him do.

i think, at the moment, he has confidence in the action the police have assured them they intend to take.

at first i was all for a broken kneecap or two, it would seem perfectly justified, but there is no hurry. he will see what the police can achieve.

[Fluke]

90 and been injured and not eating, his health could seriously deteriorate .

[jamescollister]

I suggest you do nothing. The Thais will sort it out in their own way, and the people who attacked him will get theirs...

Bettyboo nailed it.

Sometimes it depends on your status in Thailand, overseas money and you can walk away.
Live and make your living here, you may have to man up and prove your self..
Same as anywhere, stand your ground or get walked over.

Not the OPs problem, let the locals sort it.

[Albert Shagnastier]

i know there are a few members who live in that area. anybody see the incident? know the bar?

Know the area and know the bar.

You know very well that it doesn't cost much to hurt people round here.

By the story though,

he held his hands in front of himself as unsighted people do, and in doing so he made contact with the face of the woman who had turned the hose on him

whether he meant that or not, it happened, and the bunch of drunks will (fairly enough being pissed) use that as their defence.

I suggest a quiet word and a bit of compensation in the form of a present and a lot of waiing and apologies

[leemo]

Similar thing happened to an 80-yr-old plus friend at Friendship, Pattaya Tai. Bought some eggs and a few other bits, egg barcode was on the bottom of the pack, bored cashier turned it over, scanned it then dropped the pack onto the counter cracking a couple of eggs. He complained politely, was told he had bought them, asked to speak to the manager, was set upon by a security guard, headbutted, kneed as he went down and then kicked a few times. I saw the pics, they weren't pretty.

After hospital with follow up appointments at two departments for treatment and checks, police went with him to Friendship, manageress said security guy was sacked and gone, no address or ID, but offered to go 50-50 on initial hospital bill. He didn't see any money change hands, but top cop did disappear with manageress away from the meeting point for a few minutes. Mate wanted to pursue action against Friendship, was advised against - by top cop, who cautioned him he could make a report but if he took any further action "they" would know his name and address...

When things go wrong the shittiness of the country and people rise to the surface, even though the authorities make a big deal about the occasional farang that gets some degree of diluted justice.

As your mate was unsighted one imagines he wouldn't be able to positively identify anyone, the cops see no self enrichment at the end of a proper investigation so expect interest to wane rather early, and anyway if he did manage to positively identify someone for a specific role in the assault it would still be loads of words against his.

Sorry, and I do know how frustrating it is, but would recommend write it up as yet another crap experience of this terminally 3rd World country.

[Rural Surin]

Family don't have pull, or things would have been taken care of.

they do apparently, but he declined the offer. he doesnt want to go that route, although some close to him do.

i think, at the moment, he has confidence in the action the police have assured them they intend to take.

at first i was all for a broken kneecap or two, it would seem perfectly justified, but there is no hurry. he will see what the police can achieve.

This issue would have been handled [and viewed] differently if it was a rural setting......

[taxexile]

As your mate was unsighted one imagines he wouldn't be able to positively identify anyone, the cops see no self enrichment at the end of a proper investigation so expect interest to wane rather early, and anyway if he did manage to positively identify someone for a specific role in the assault it would still be loads of words against his.

the two attackers were taken to the police station, and did not deny their involvement in the incident, but blamed it on him and their drunkenness.

the police however were very sympathetic to the victim.

i also understand that an assault by more than one person is classified as a gang attack in law, and is considered a much more serious crime.

[Fluke]

Songkram , You must expect to get water thrown at you .
If you dont want to get wet, stay at home .
Sounds like he started the confrontation by complaining and turned it violent by slapping the Woman .
I dont agree with violence, but I also dont agree with people using their age or sex as a reason why other people should nt retaliate when they become violent

[Rural Surin]

Songkram , You must expect to get water thrown at you .
If you dont want to get wet, stay at home .
Sounds like he started the confrontation by complaining and turned it violent by slapping the Woman .
I dont agree with violence, but I also dont agree with people using their age or sex as a reason why other people should nt retaliate when they become violent

Heartless and disrespecting kunt...
Especially towards your elders.

[neemo]

Pay the cops to act faster, normal practice. If you feel bad enough, do the farang yourself. Jim

Eh, which farang, the bar owner?
Otto seems a decent guy, and wasn't even there judging by the OP.

[Fluke]

Songkram , You must expect to get water thrown at you .
If you dont want to get wet, stay at home .
Sounds like he started the confrontation by complaining and turned it violent by slapping the Woman .
I dont agree with violence, but I also dont agree with people using their age or sex as a reason why other people should nt retaliate when they become violent

Heartless and disrespecting kunt...
Especially towards your elders.

You are defending a Man who attacks a Woman ?

[Smug Farang Bore]

Very sad to hear that Tax.

I think I know it better than most.

The place was heading one way years ago.

Really sad.